Lewis putting up record postseason numbers

ST. PETERSBURG -- By allowing just one hit in six innings on Monday night, Colby Lewis has become the all-time leader in opponents batting average among pitchers with at least five postseason starts.

After a 4-3 victory over the Rays, Lewis is holding opponents to a .155 batting average in the postseason, having allowed 17 hits in 32 1/3 innings. His 1.67 ERA is the eighth lowest for pitchers with a minimum of five starts. Sandy Koufax is first with a 0.95 ERA in the postseason.

Lewis, at 4-0 in his five starts, is one of eight pitchers to have made at least five starts in the postseason and not lost a game. He has won four straight postseason starts. Since 2000, the only American League pitchers to win four straight starts in the playoffs were Josh Beckett and Andy Pettitte.

Roundtripper: Cameraman falls on Beltre's trot

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was a day of firsts for Adrian Beltre in the Rangers' 4-3 American League Division Series clincher against the Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

Not only did Beltre collect his first postseason home run in the first inning, but he also connected on another two later in the game, becoming the first player to homer three times in a Division Series game.

As Beltre rounded third and slapped hands with third-base coach Dave Anderson as he made his way toward home plate during his first shot, the cameraman capturing his trot tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.

Beltre turned his head to the right and pointed at the cameraman. When he got back to the dugout and was pestered by teammates, Beltre held up both hands. After the game in the celebrating clubhouse, the Rangers third baseman jokingly asked where the cameraman was so he could douse him with champagne.

"I just hope he's all right," said Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who led off the game with a homer. "We got a good laugh out of it."

Nearly everyone available in Rangers' bullpen

ST. PETERSBURG -- Derek Holland will be in the bullpen for Game 4 against the Rays, as Rangers manager Ron Washington is in "all-hands-on-deck" mode to wrap up the American League Division Series.

Washington also said Neftali Feliz is available as closer, having thrown 25 pitches in a four-out save in the Rangers' 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Monday. The only two pitchers who won't be available in the bullpen are Game 3 winner Colby Lewis and potential Game 5 starter C.J. Wilson.

"This is the playoffs," Washington said. "Everybody is available."

The Rangers used five relievers on Monday, and they combined to throw 74 pitches. Right now, the rising star is Alexi Ogando, who has moved from the rotation to the bullpen and regained his effectiveness as a setup reliever.

He has already displaced Koji Uehara as the seventh-inning reliever and could be used in the eighth instead of Mike Adams. Washington went with Adams in the eighth inning on Monday and he couldn't retire a batter. He gave up a home run to Desmond Jennings and then walked three straight.

"He didn't have his command," Washington said. "He couldn't hit his spots. When he hits his spots, he's extremely tough. Yesterday, he was just out of whack."

Asked if he would use Adams in the eighth inning on Tuesday, Washington said, "We'll see. It just depends on if I have to use Ogando early."

Adams was bailed out by others. Mike Napoli threw out B.J. Upton trying to steal second. Michael Gonzalez struck out Johnny Damon on three pitches and Feliz finished the inning by striking out Ben Zobrist.

The big out was Gonzalez striking out Damon on three pitches. That kept Washington from using Feliz for five outs, something he would prefer not to do. Feliz had just one four-out save during the regular season, and that was on April 10. He also pitched more than one inning in only six of his 64 appearances.

"I only want to use Neftali for four outs at the most," Washington said. "But if we've got a chance to put a game away and I need five outs, I'll go to Neftali."

Rangers run into outs for different reasons

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rangers had two baserunners thrown out in Game 3. Craig Gentry was caught stealing in the third inning when David Price picked him off first base, and Elvis Andrus was nailed off third base by catcher John Jaso in the seventh.

Andrus was on third, with Josh Hamilton at first and Michael Young at the plate. The Rangers had already scored four runs in the inning and, with two outs, were looking for more. Hamilton broke for second and had a great jump. Jaso faked to second and threw to third to catch Andrus. Manager Ron Washington said Andrus was thinking on his own, believing he could steal home if Jaso threw down to second.

"That wasn't a designed play, that was Elvis being Elvis," Washington said. "He was trying to make something happen. All of a sudden he thought he was going to be sliding across home plate and jumping up and down. He knew he messed up.

"He just got excited. That's what Elvis does. When he's out there going good, he thinks he's Superman. He thinks he's invincible."

As for Gentry, Washington still wants him to be aggressive on the basepaths. Washington said Gentry just needed a better read on Price's move.

"I just told him don't be timid," Washington said. "We're going to stay aggressive. If you get picked off, you get picked off. He just needs to get a better read."

That went down as a caught stealing, something that has never happened to Gentry before at the Major League level. He is 19-for-19 in the regular season.

Worth noting

 Catchers Matt Treanor and Yorvit Torrealba were both fine one day after their pregame collision during stretching. Treanor does have some swelling in his lower lip.

 Rangers catchers went into Game 4 hitting .295 with 13 runs scored, four home runs and 14 RBIs in the postseason over the past two seasons. The catchers have the most runs and most RBIs of any position on the Rangers in those 19 playoff games.